Pest Control Abbotsford BC involves taking steps to reduce the number of pests in a given area. Preventive measures include keeping food in sealed containers and removing clutter where pests can breed and hide.

Natural forces affect all organisms and cause pest populations to rise and fall. These factors include climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, and food and water supplies.

Identifying pests is important to determine the need for pest control. A pest is any organism that damages, degrades or destroys crops, food or other natural resources. It may also cause diseases in humans, animals and plants. The level of damage determines the need for pest control, the potential harm or inconvenience to the food supply, and the cost of controlling the pest. Pests are:

• Typically small mammals.
• Crawling insects (such as cockroaches and ants).
• Flying insects (e.g., houseflies and fermentation flies) or mites.

A pest’s appearance can change as it goes through the different stages of its life cycle. For example, a weed seedling may look very similar to an immature beetle or worm. In addition, many insect species undergo significant physical changes as they go from eggs to larvae, nymphs and adults. This can make the identification process difficult.

The first step in identifying a pest is to examine its physical characteristics. This can include the shape and color of the body, the position of the wings, the number of antennae and other distinctive features. In some cases, it may be necessary to compare the specimen with a photograph or other information to confirm its identity.

Another step is to observe the damage caused by the pest. Indirect damage is when the pest transports pathogens to the plant or deteriorates the plants through feeding. Direct damage includes holes in the plant’s tissues, speckles on the leaves and flowers and weakened or wilted plants.

Once the pest has been identified, a pest management plan can be developed to minimize or eliminate it. The type of pest can influence the type of preventive, cultural or chemical controls that are appropriate.

The MuseumPests website offers a series of easy-to-read PDF Pest Fact Sheets for most of the common museum pests. They are based on a survey of professionals in cultural heritage institutions. The sheets provide general information about the pest, its life cycle and how it causes damage, as well as tips on prevention and control.

The plant pest lab is able to provide identification services for most insects that damage plants. To submit a sample for examination, please use our Submission Sheet. Samples used to be preserved in alcohol, but this is now considered a shipping hazard. County offices have or can order safe shipping vials for you to use when sending samples for identification.

Pest Prevention

The primary goal of pest prevention is to avoid the need for pest control. This is achieved by removing food, water and shelter sources that attract pests. Storage of food in sealed containers, removing garbage regularly with tightly covered trash cans, and trimming vegetation close to buildings are essential to pest prevention. Regular maintenance of buildings, especially repairing leaky plumbing and sealing cracks, also is important to pest prevention.

Despite the best efforts of building maintenance crews, pests can sometimes invade buildings in large numbers. The presence of pests at such levels can result in contamination, damage and/or disruption of normal operations and services. In addition, if a pest is present in a large enough number, it may have health implications for the occupants of the building.

To determine the need for pest control, it is necessary to estimate when pest populations will reach unacceptable threshold levels. Monitoring pests, including identifying the species and life stages, can help in this effort. Life-stage information, such as the number of eggs, nymphs and pupae, can help in estimating population growth rates, which are often limited by the availability of food and shelter.

Pests that are often considered to be nuisances include rodents (e.g., black and brown rats, mice), cockroaches, ants and bees and wasps. They can cause contamination with bacterial pathogens that affect the wholesomeness of foods and sanitary conditions, and they are a source of allergens that can trigger asthma attacks in children and adults.

Some natural forces affect the growth of all organisms, including pests. Climate, natural enemies, overwintering sites and the availability of food and water can limit pest populations. Other factors that influence pest populations are the availability of breeding sites, the presence of predators and prey, and environmental barriers. For example, mountains and bodies of water can restrict the spread of some pests. In addition, a pest’s ability to reproduce and grow quickly is affected by the hormones in the plant or animal on which it feeds. A pest’s host can even affect the chemical signals that are used to communicate with other members of its species.

Pest Control Methods

Pest control involves a wide range of techniques designed to keep pests from damaging crops, buildings, or other areas. Methods include biological, physical, and chemical methods. Some of these techniques involve using parasites, natural predators, and pathogens to manage or eradicate pest populations. Other methods involve altering the environment to discourage pests, including using barriers and traps. Chemical pesticides are also commonly used to control pests, though this approach can be hazardous to humans and other organisms.

Before pest control tactics can be employed, the need for control must be determined. This is based on whether the pests cause significant economic or aesthetic damage, or have reached threshold levels where action should be taken. Monitoring and scouting can be used to identify pest species and determine population levels. Monitoring of insect, weed, and vertebrate pests can include trapping or scouting, while microbial pest monitoring usually relies on visual inspection.

Several factors can influence the need for pest control, such as the length of a pest’s life cycle, environmental conditions, food availability, and available shelter. Natural features such as mountains and bodies of water can restrict the spread of some pests, while sanitary practices can reduce others. Clutter can provide hiding places and breeding sites for pests, so removing it can help reduce their numbers. Food-handling and storage facilities can be improved through sanitation and waste management practices to reduce the attraction of pests.

Once the need for pest control is established, the next step is to develop a strategy to manage the pests. Integrated pest management (IPM) is one of the most common and effective strategies for managing pests, including insects, weeds, disease organisms, and mammals. IPM plans take into account a pest’s life cycle and damage potential, its economic or aesthetic injury level, its natural enemies, and the effects of weather. Traps, barriers, fences, radiation, and modifications of the environment can be used to control pests, with a combination of tactics often needed to achieve success. The goal of IPM is to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable numbers before a treatment plan is initiated.

Pesticides

A pesticide is any substance used to kill or repel pests. It can be natural or synthetic (manmade). Types of pesticides include herbicides to destroy weeds, insecticides to kill insects and rodenticides to kill mice and rats. Other types of pesticides include fungicides to control mildew and mold, molluscicides to kill snails and slugs, and nematodes to kill worm-like creatures that feed on plant roots.

All pesticides carry some risk to human beings. Proper use decreases this risk to an acceptable level. This includes selecting a pesticide designed for the particular pest, following the label instructions exactly, and using the minimum amount necessary to achieve the desired result.

The form a pesticide takes, such as solid, liquid or powder, will influence the way it enters the body and affects your health. It’s also important to avoid spraying any pesticides into or near your face. If you do, it can cause eye irritation and/or damage the lungs. If you do not wear the protective clothing suggested in the label instructions, you can suffer from skin and lung irritation. Some pesticides can also cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. Some can even be fatal if they come into contact with the skin or respiratory system.

Many pesticides are toxic to non-target organisms, including humans, pets and native wildlife. They can also degrade soil, water and air quality, and can be transported from the site of application to other places where they don’t belong. Pesticides can also contribute to the loss of biodiversity and endanger endangered species.

Whenever possible, try to use non-chemical methods of pest control. Remember that pests are usually a symptom of an imbalanced ecosystem, not just a sign of an unhealthy garden or home. So take steps to improve the overall health of your garden or home, and you’ll naturally reduce the number of pests. If this is not feasible, be sure to consider your options carefully before deciding on the most appropriate pesticide.

Columbia MO Pest Control is the management of pests to reduce their damage to plants and other things humans value. It can involve prevention, suppression, or eradication.

Natural forces influence pest populations, causing them to rise and fall. These include climate, natural enemies, and availability of food and shelter.

Biological controls reduce pest populations by using predators, parasites, and pathogens. They are often combined with pheromones and juvenile hormones.

Rats

Rats are a serious nuisance pest that can be found everywhere there is food and water. They contaminate foods and can cause disease in humans and pets. They damage buildings by chewing on materials such as wood, drywall, and electrical wires. They are very agile climbers and will nest above ground in shrubs, trees, or dense vegetation like ivy. Rats can also devastate commercial agricultural crops, costing farmers massive losses.

Rat control requires a multi-faceted approach including sanitation, trapping, baiting and proofing. Educating the public is an important component of any successful rat control program. This includes advising the public to not feed wild birds and to bring all bird seed indoors at night. Proper trash disposal is crucial, and all compost and garbage should be tightly sealed and stored in rodent-proof containers. Keeping the property clean is also key to preventing rats from accessing your home and other buildings. This includes removing all clutter, and stacks of wood and other materials which may be used to create shelter for rats and other rodents.

The most effective method of rat control is to prevent them from entering in the first place. This can be done by rat proofing the property and reducing available food, water and shelter sources. This can be accomplished by storing all food in rodent-proof containers, picking up any fallen fruits or vegetables and moving pet food dishes inside at night.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the most troublesome pests that infest homes. They can contaminate food, kitchen utensils, and appliances with their droppings and secretions, and they may also transmit diseases. They feed on a variety of plant and animal-based foods and non-living things, including wood, paper, twigs, dung, and other insects. In extreme infestations, cockroaches are even known to bite humans.

In general, cockroaches are attracted to dark, damp areas where they can hide, breed, and feed. Removing hiding spots indoors and outdoors can help to deter them. Sweep and mop surfaces often, especially floors and behind and under stoves, refrigerators, and sinks. Clean up crumbs and spills promptly, and store food in airtight containers. Empty garbage and trash cans frequently, and secure lids on outdoor containers. Reduce or eliminate sources of moisture such as puddles, water leaks, and foundation plantings. Remove outdoor pet dishes and reduce the amount of food left out at night.

Indoors, use a combination of traps, bait stations, and insecticide sprays to target cockroach populations. Residual sprays containing boric acid, pyrethroids, or acetamiprid will provide quick knockdown, while baits with abamectin, hydramethylnon, fipronil, indoxacarb, or acetamiprid offer long-lasting control. Use diatomaceous earth or silica aerogel in crawl spaces, attics, and wall voids to kill cockroaches that have made their way inside. Consider using caulking and weather-stripping to seal entry points into your home. These steps will allow other roach control methods to be more effective.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are parasitic insects of the genus Cimex that feed on blood. They become active at night and pierce skin to bite, drawing blood. Their bites can result in rashes and psychological effects, and some people are allergic to them. In addition to their annoyance, they can transmit diseases to humans and pets.

Bed bug infestations occur in homes and apartments, but usually are not restricted to bedrooms. They may travel to other rooms and buildings by hitching a ride in luggage, purses, or clothes. Bed bugs are very difficult to control and require a comprehensive approach.

Cooperation by occupants is essential during treatment for bed bugs. This involves removing all belongings from infested rooms, separating treated from untreated items, and helping the pest control professional to treat all areas of a room and building. Excess clutter can provide many places for the pests to hide and can impede the inspection and treatment process. It is important to discard soiled and infested bedding and upholstered furniture or encase them in plastic if they cannot be cleaned.

Vacuum all floors and furniture, including the area around beds, at least once a week. Wash upholstered items, bedding, and curtains in hot water frequently. Seal cracks in baseboards, furniture, and electrical outlets with caulk to limit hiding places for the pests. Vacuuming and washing regularly helps keep the infestation under control and will minimize the need for pesticides.

Fleas

Fleas are tiny wingless parasitic creatures that live off blood, usually that of dogs or other animals. They find new hosts by sensing body heat and movement, or through the smell of a host’s breath. When a flea finds its target, it jumps onto the animal and attaches itself with mouthparts to suck blood for a few seconds. After that, it falls off and lays its eggs in the environment. The cycle begins again.

Flea prevention is best achieved by washing all pet bedding in hot soapy water and vacuuming frequently to disrupt the life cycles. Vacuuming with a bag or bagless canister (with hot, soapy water) removes 95% of flea eggs, larvae and cocoons. Carpets, throw rugs and furniture (including beneath sofa cushions where pets sleep) should all be treated with an insecticide that contains both an adulticide to kill the adults quickly and an insect growth regulator to prevent hatching of future generations. Treatment of outdoor areas, such as animal pens and doghouses, is also important. In addition, removal of leaf and brush piles outdoors can help reduce the flea’s ability to hide, as well as limiting raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and skunks from accessing crawl spaces in and around homes.

Heavy infestations may require the services of a pest control specialist who can apply a spray treatment to the indoor and outdoor areas of the home at intervals that interrupt the life cycles of the fleas. A number of additional steps are often required as part of this process, including screening or sealing crawl space openings and cutting tall grass to discourage wildlife from hiding in the area.

Wasps

Wasps, despite their painful stings, are beneficial insects that help to pollinate flowers and feed on nuisance bugs that can damage plants. However, they can also be a nuisance when their nests get near your home or children. Luckily, you can keep wasps away from your house by making sure your yard is free of food scraps and open trash cans. Also be sure to close any doors or windows that aren’t needed, and fix cracks, tears and leaks around the house.

You can also create a natural wasp repellent by using a combination of clove, geranium and lemon grass essential oils. Add a few drops of each oil to a spray bottle of water, and use the solution to spray areas where wasps are likely to build nests. It’s best to treat at dusk or dawn, when the wasps are less active. Always wear gloves and long sleeves and pants when attacking a wasp’s nest, and be sure to spray all parts of the nest.

If you’ve successfully removed a wasp nest, be sure to spray the area yearly. Wasps spread pheromones in the area when they feel threatened, and these pheromones can attract other wasps to the same spot. Re-treating the area will mask the pheromones and discourage new wasps from building a nest there. If you’re unable to remove a wasp nest from your property, contact a pest control professional for help.

Ants

Ants are insects that are related to bees and wasps. Unlike most other pests, they do not cause structural damage or transmit diseases. Many ants create colonies in the ground, in rotting wood, leaf litter or other protected areas. They also nest in the walls and roof eaves of buildings, and some species build satellite nests in grass. The most commonly encountered ant in homes is the carpenter ant, which nests in moist wood. Most ants entering buildings are foraging from outdoor colonies. A perimeter treatment of liquid insecticides (typically the pyrethroids bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin or lambda cyhalothrin) can inhibit ant entry. Perimeter sprays, however, do not control ants that enter homes from below ground nest openings in foundations.

Most ant problems can be controlled by eliminating the outdoor ants that are invading the house. Outdoor ant colonies may be controlled by applying a dust formulation of pheromones or an ant bait containing a sweet substance, such as sugar or a protein that will attract ants and kill them. Bait products, available from pest control firms and some hardware stores, have the advantage of providing longer residual control than do barrier sprays.

For occasional indoor infestations, a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle can repel ants. Spray it at ant entry points, such as doors and windows, or wherever ants are seen in the house. Vacuuming up ant trails and wiping them with soapy water can also discourage ants.